Virginia Firefighter Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries

Firehouse.com News On May 21, 2012

A Charles City County firefighter sustained serious life-threatening injuries after a water tanker he was driving overturned early Sunday morning.

Firefighter Michael R. Buchanan, 51, was en route to a fire around 4:30 a.m. when the rig ran off the side of the road in the 7100 block of Old Union Road, crossed back over onto the road and rolled before coming to a rest on the passenger side, according to WTVR-TV.

Buchanan -- who was the only one in the apparatus -- was flown to VCU Medical Center and has undergone at least one surgery.

One witness told the news station that his leg became pinned in the apparatus and that responding firefighters had to use extrication tools.

State Police are assisting in the investigation led by the Charles City and New Kent Sheriff's Departments.

Firehouse.com will provide more information on this story as it becomes available.